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Posted on: April 29, 2020

Individuals with Symptoms—Even Mild Symptoms—Should Get Tested

MEDIA RELEASE

Contact: Jodie Pond

Phone: 307-732-8461

Fax: 307-733-8747

Email address: jodie.pond@wyo.gov

April 29, 2020, Jackson, WY- Teton County Health Department has announced it is now offering free COVID-19 active disease testing to individuals who qualify, based on insurance status and symptoms. “We hope that by eliminating financial barriers, we can successfully reach community testing goals, keep our residents healthy, and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Teton County,” said Teton District Health Officer Travis Riddell, MD.

Starting today, uninsured or under-insured individuals with COVID-19 related symptoms can call the Teton County Health Department at 307-733-6401 to schedule an appointment for a free COVID-19 active disease test. The Health Department will provide a voucher for testing at Emerg-A-care or St. John’s Health.

Testing is being highly encouraged for any individual experiencing symptoms, regardless of how mild or severe. At this time, the voucher program is only available for individuals experiencing fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle aches, chills, headache, loss of taste of smell, or other flu-like symptoms. Anyone experiencing an emergency should call 911 or seek care immediately at the St. John’s Emergency Department.

All patients, regardless of insurance status, should talk to their primary care provider if they are feeling ill or call St. John’s Health hotline at 307-739-4898, option 1, for a phone evaluation. Many insurance plans do cover the cost of active disease testing.

The Health Department is actively working to increase testing in Teton County, Wyoming. Governor Mark Gordon has identified active disease testing metrics as indicators of when it will be appropriate to phase the reopening of personal and business activity. “To meet testing goals set by the state of Wyoming, we need to increase the number of tests in Teton County,” said Jodie Pond, Director of Teton County Health Department. While initially there were limitations, Teton County has increased its testing capability and is now able to test significantly more people.

The mission of Teton County Health Department is to promote the health and wellbeing of the community through protection and prevention efforts in collaboration with an engaged public and other community partners. We strive to do so in times of struggle and prosperity. We recognize the economic and personal toll that COVID-19 has had on our community, and our goal is to reopen our economy as safely and quickly as possible. We hope that the public will help us in this effort.